WALES: Bates launches Flood Awareness Strategy

Mick Bates, Welsh Liberal Democrat AM for Montgomeryshire, today expressed his hope that the new Environment Agency flood risk management strategy for Wales would help many Montgomeryshire people fighting the effects of flooding.

Speaking as the AM sponsor of the strategy launch in the National Assembly today, he said:

"I'm pleased to work with the Environment Agency to help people living in flood risk areas to take measures that will reduce the impact of flooding; flooding is an issue of growing importance, one that affects nearly every constituency and community in Wales, I am only too well aware of the distress and damage it can cause".

Mick Bates and the Environment Agency launched the 2003 Flood Awareness Campaign in the National Assembly today - 'Be Prepared For Flooding'; in his introduction Mick, with Dr Helen Phillips (director of the EA in Wales), said that helping people protect their homes had been neglected for too long.

"I hope to have a 'Flood Fair' in Montgomeryshire", said Mr Bates, "to show best practice to people so that they protect their livelihoods and their homes".